This publication presents statistics compiled from the Survey of Income and Housing (SIH) on Australian housing mobility and dwelling conditions. These data were collected in the 2007-08 SIH, in addition to the housing occupancy and costs information regularly collected in every SIH cycle and released in Housing Occupancy and Costs, Australia (cat. no. 4130.0).

The ABS will collect information on additional housing topics in the SIH every six years. The topics selected for inclusion in the 2007-08 SIH were determined through extensive consultation with major users of housing statistics. A similar process is expected to be followed for the 2013-14 SIH, which will next include additional housing topics.

The selected housing topics include length of time in dwelling, number of times moved in last five years, reasons for moving, and characteristics of the previous dwelling occupied. They also include aspects of the dwelling occupied, such as any major structural problems, repairs and maintenance carried out in the past 12 months, and sources of energy and water. For first home buyers, data on home deposits paid and any monetary assistance received for the purchase were collected.

EFFECTS OF ROUNDING

Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals. Published percentages are calculated prior to the rounding of the figures and therefore some discrepancy may exist between these percentages and those that could be calculated from the rounded figures.

INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or James Mowle on Canberra (02) 6252 5508.